Yuu wasn't drunk, so he saw everything clearly.
While saying, "Today, we should all speak honestly," Haruno used alcohol as an excuse and put on another mask.
All that talk of heroes or pleas for help was just a deliberate show of vulnerability to evoke his sympathy.
That's why she was called warped.
When she should've been honest, she chose calculation, chose to set a trap.
If one were to describe her contradictory demeanor or her cunning in navigating the world, this girl could indeed be called a mature adult.
And also a master manipulator.
Haruno's acting, though not perfect, was clearly at the peak of expert level—in web novel terms, perhaps half a step from perfection?
An ordinary high school boy might genuinely fall for her knightly spirit and hero complex, smoothly swept away by her to live the blissful life of a sugar baby pampered by a wealthy woman.
Their time together had made Yuu understand Haruno well enough.
Understanding her didn't mean knowing her birthdate, height, or what foods she liked or disliked…
Understanding meant remembering this person, reserving a place for her in his heart, and from then on, finding it hard to forget her.
Yuu looked at the woman before him. No need to say it—her image was already deeply etched in his eyes.
Could he forget her? With his system, he could.
But facing this college girl who wore many masks—sometimes strong, sometimes fragile, always smiling brightly, always confident and nimble by his side, cunning like a fox yet clingy like an ordinary girl—how could he forget her so easily? No way!
"Now it's your turn? What do you want to say?"
Only slightly startled, Haruno quickly shed her previous expressions, her lips pursing slightly as she sat more seriously.
Perhaps this was the final showdown? Both had the same thought.
But Yuu shook his head.
"Give me your glass."
Though confused, Haruno handed him her empty small glass.
A new bottle of alcohol happened to arrive.
Under Haruno's shocked gaze, Yuu poured himself a glass and downed it.
Then he smacked his lips, unable to stop himself from wrinkling his nose:
"Turns out I'm really not used to drinking."
In his previous life, he didn't smoke, and drinking was just a taste here and there. His daily routine was disciplined, and his doctor even said he was very healthy.
His job didn't require drinking for socializing, and he wasn't used to pouring this bitter liquid into his mouth—that's how he remembered it.
And now, the sensation of shochu sticking to his throat, stimulating his mouth and brain, felt even more foreign to his seventeen-year-old body.
Setting down the glass, Yuu let out a slow breath, his voice slightly hoarse and low.
"Haruno, is my face really red?"
Haruno nodded obediently: "Starting to get red. First time drinking alcohol, huh?"
"You could say that, and I don't want a second time." Yuu didn't drink tea to ease it, instead looking at Haruno with cheeks gradually warming.
"The first thing I want to say—I really like you, maybe even love you. When we kissed, you should've felt it."
Her hands on her knees tightened slightly, and Haruno gave a faint smile: "Yeah, that's why I said you got swept up."
"That's the problem with acting too well." Yuu shrugged, his expression calm. "A lie told for too long ends up no different from the truth… As long as no one exposes it, sooner or later, even you won't know if it's just acting."
Haruno quietly poured herself another glass of alcohol, downed it, her gaze slowly cooling.
"You're saying I shouldn't rush to expose the lie between us?"
It was as if she was blaming him for being tactless, for not reading the situation. They'd both admitted to having feelings for each other, yet Yuu was saying words that seemed to shirk responsibility. No wonder Haruno would be upset.
"It's related to the second thing I want to say."
Yuu took her glass, as if challenging her, and downed another. The heat in his ears was unmistakable.
Then, he said as if nothing happened: "If I really became your boyfriend, you might—"
Lose your memories and forget everything that happened between us.
As those words were about to come out, whether due to the alcohol's effect, his vision seemed to blur like a blackout, with buzzing sounds in his ears.
His heart felt squeezed by a witch's hand, cold sweat quickly soaking his back; the system panel faintly appeared in the corner of his eye, flickering briefly before vanishing.
As if finally breaking free from an illusion, Yuu snapped back, finding Haruno staring at him coldly.
"You're saying I shouldn't rush to expose the lie between us?"
"…"
Yuu lowered his head in silence.
There was no glass beside him, let alone a second one filled to the brim.
(…Tch, could it really end up like this?)
The last time he wanted to tell Sora, since it was just an intention, the system only gave a warning and let it go.
But this time, when he was about to recklessly reveal system- and mission-related things to Haruno, the system didn't hold back, silencing him in the most sophisticated way.
Rewinding time just like that—truly worthy of the System.
But this situation was somewhat expected.
Yuu sighed, picked up her glass again, and downed it.
"It's related to the second thing I want to say…"
(Because of some reason, if we stop being rental lovers, something very bad will happen.)
The moment that thought arose, the glass in his hand slipped unconsciously.
Pain surged from his heart, his pupils suddenly contracting, as if his eyes were veiled in shadow, his consciousness rapidly losing signal.
When he came to, Haruno was still staring at him, the glass still in his hand.
"You're saying… What's wrong with you? Are you okay?"
"…"
Yuu lowered his head, clenching his teeth tightly without speaking.
His heart felt like it had just been crushed, lingering pain and tremors remaining; fear left a shadow in his mind, as if a witch's divine chant whispered in his ears.
He masked his reaction with perfect acting, but he couldn't stop his body from trembling instinctively.
Was this because the system was too sensitive?
Would thinking of revealing the secret a third time result in immediate death, with time rewinding?
Truly, this was the life of a rental boyfriend from zero…
"Hey, don't just stay silent. You only drank a little; it can't be that bad, right?"
With no response from him, Haruno's cold gaze quickly turned to worry.
She leaned closer, placing her hand on Yuu's forehead, then swiftly wiped the cold sweat from his temples with a handkerchief, holding his face and examining him closely.
"Drunk from alcohol? No way, your face paled so fast, cold sweat pouring… Are you allergic to alcohol?"
Her brow furrowed tightly, her expression anxious, as she quickly decided to take him to a hospital.
Yuu pressed her hand, looked up, and smiled as if nothing happened: "I'm not drunk, and I'm not allergic to alcohol… Don't worry."
Haruno immediately rolled her eyes, saying with disdain: "Only an idiot would hear 'don't worry' and actually not worry. Do I look like an idiot?"
"No." Yuu sighed, speaking honestly, "Alright, I am allergic to alcohol… I just found out today."
"Then drink your tea obediently and don't touch alcohol again."
Haruno firmly called the waiter, asking the tea master to brew fresh tea, then bit her lip slightly, muttering softly: "Good thing I didn't really push you to drink, or I'd feel so guilty now…"
Seeing her adorable and relieved expression, Yuu couldn't hold back a laugh, as if a gentle breeze suddenly cleared the dark clouds in his heart.
A quick decision formed. His heart no longer ached, and his voice softened unconsciously: "Haruno, the second thing I want to say—I hope you'll listen."
Her movements paused. Haruno looked at her glass, nodding as if indifferent.
"Alright, I'm listening. Go ahead."
"It's just a small request from me…"
Yuu took a soft breath, looking at her with a serious expression, saying word by word:
"Even if I'm the one paying, can we stay rental lovers?"
Her hand holding the glass froze. Haruno's mouth opened slightly, staring at him in shock and confusion.
In front of her, Yuu smiled, for the first time, so gently and brightly.
"Please believe me, I'll definitely agree to your request in the end."
"I'll be the hero standing in front of you, like you said—just, until I'm fully ready, I hope our relationship doesn't change."
"The deadline is…"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
So, in the end, Yuu wasn't much different from an ordinary high school boy.
Seeing through lies, yet still falling for them.
Knowing the truth, yet still hoping and unwilling to face a reality too cruel.
At least for now, he couldn't yet become an adult like Haruno.